Car truck



Jan. 16, 1940- J. A. SHAFER CAR TRUCK Filed May 13, 1938 2 ShQetS-Sheet 1 INVENTOR James A51;

c7 er BY f ATTORNE Jan. 16,1940.

J. A. SHAFER' CAR 'rrgucx Filed llay 1s,' 1938 2 sheets-sheave INVENTOR James Ash BY qfer ATTORx Y Patented Jan. 1 6, 1940 CAR TRUCK James A. Shafer, East Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to National Malleable and .Steel Castings Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application May 13, 1938, Serial No. 207,646

16 Claims.

This invention relates to railway car trucks and more particularly to a stabilized truck.

An object of my invention is to provide a truck with a built-in friction means of large bearing area for effectively preventing harmonic vibrations of the bolster supporting springs.

Another object of my invention is to provide a truck with a novel friction means which is simple in construction and easily manufactured and which permits ease of assembly of the truck.

A further object of my invention is the provision of friction means which in addition to preventing harmonic vibrations of the bolster springs serves to tie together the side frames and bolster in such a manner as to make the truck self-squaring.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a truck with built-in friction means in which the wear is taken on elements that are readily renewed.

A more specific object of my invention is the provision of a car truck with a bolster having lugs provided with annular wedge faces adapted to engage a plurality of friction shoes, thereby urging said shoes against friction segments surrounding said shoes and generating friction therebetween to effectively damp the vibrations of the bolster springs when said truck is in service.

Other objects and advantages of my invention a I will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which: I

Figure 1 is a side elevational view partly in section, taken on line i--l of Fig. 2 showing an embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1, with one of the bolster trunnions removed.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the friction shoes; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the friction segments.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a side frame at having compression member H, tension member l2, and vertical columns l3, l3 connecting said members and forming a bolster receivin opening It therebetween. Extending i into opening M is the end portion l5 of the bolster. The horizontal portion of tension member i2 is comprised of side walls I6, bottom connecting wall 11, and top connecting wall or shelf l8;"- Positioned on shelf I8 and extending into i the downwardly opening pocket of the bolster end portion I5 are bolster supporting springs I9, 20. Housed within the horizontal portion of tension member I2 are bolster supporting springs 2|, 22. Projecting downwardly from the bolster end portion [5 into. openings in shelf l8 are the integral, 5 vertical lugs 25, each of which is provided with an annular wedge face 26 at its bottom end. Extending downwardly from the underside of shelf l8 and in line with the openings therein are flanges 21 and 28 having horizontal inward projections 29 and 29, respectively, at their lower ends which serve to support the friction segments 30. In addition to flanges 21 and 28, segments '30 are further held in position laterally of the side frame by flanges 3| and 32 extending upwardly from shelf 8. The segments are also prevented from turning by portions 33 of columns i3. Resting upon springs 2|, 22 and interposed between lugs and the friction segments are the friction shoes 34. The base portion 35 of each shoe is provided on its upper side with an annular wedge face 36 corresponding in slope to the wedge face on the lugs 25 and is engaged by said lug wedge face. The upstanding flange 37 of each shoe extends between the lug and segments and is provided with a surface 38 which frictionally cooperates with the inner surface 39 of said segments.

The springs are protected from oversolid blows by segments 30 which upon heavy shock will engage the bottom wall id of the bolster to prevent further compression of the springs, the distance between the top of the segments and said bottom wall under no-load conditions being less than the distance required to compress the springs solid.

In operation the bolster loads are transmitted through the lugs to the friction shoes which are urged by the wedge action against the friction segments, thereby generating friction to prevent any harmonic vibrations of the springs. It will be noted that substantially the entire friction area of the shoes is utilized in this construction. Also due to the wedge faces on the lugs and friction shoes the trunnions are kept centered over their corresponding springs and thus a clearance is normally maintained between the bolster and side frame.

The wedge action between the lugs and friction shoes is also utilized in the squaring of the 1101- ster and side frames. In operation as the truck travels around a curve, one side frame may lead the other, causing the bolster to assume a position out of square with each frame, so that each bolster lug must necessarily have moved out of its central position over its springs to a higher position on the wedge faces of the friction shoes. While in this position only a portion of the wedge face of each lug contacts the wedge faces of the friction shoes. However, the tendency of the lugs, due to the bolster load, is to return to their normal central position over their springs. Thus, after the force which causes the truck to go out of square is removed, the lugs slide back to their original positions on the friction shoe wedge faces.

While I have shown and described the construction and operation of one side frame and the end of a bolster, it will, of course, be understood that another side frame cooperates with the other end of the bolster in like manner and that a consideration of one frame and its associated bolster is sufficient. Moreover, while I have shown three shoes cooperating with each bolster lug 25 it will be understood that the number of shoes may be varied without departing .from the spirit of my invention.

Disassembly of truck is readily accomplished by first raising the bolster so that the lugs clear the tops of the friction shoes. After the usual wedges and brasses have been removed from the journal boxes, the side frame can be withdrawn from the bolster.

The terms and expressions which I have employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and I have no intention, in the use of. such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but recognize that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

What I claim is:

1. In a car truck, a side frame having a bolster receiving opening and a shelf therebelow, a bolster extending into said opening, spring means below said shelf for supporting said bolster, lugs projecting from said bolster into openings in said shelf and positioned over said spring means, each of said lugs having a peripheral wedge face, friction shoes interposed between said lugs and spring means, and friction members between said shoes and side frame, said shoes being adapted to be urged by said lugs against said members to frictionally cooperate therewith upon movement of said bolster.

2. In a car truck, a side frame having a bolster receiving opening and a shelf therebelow, a bolster extending into said opening, spring means below said shelf for supporting said bolster, 9. lug projecting from said bolster through an opening in said shelf and positioned over said spring means, said lug having a peripheral wedge face, and friction means actuated by said lug comprising elements carried by said frame and spring means, said elements being constructed and arranged so as to move relative to each other when actuated by said lug upon movement of said bolster for damping oscillations of said spring means.

3. A bolster having lugs projecting vertically from the ends thereof adapted to cooperate with bolster supporting springs, each of said lugs having a substantially vertical wall over a portion of the extent thereof and a wedge surface at the lower end of said wall extending about the periphery thereof adapted to engage a wedge face on a friction shoe supported by the bolster supporting springs.

4. In a car truck a side frame having a bolster receiving opening and a shelf therebelow, a

bolster extending into said opening, spring means below said shelf for supporting said bolster, lugs projecting from said bolster through openings in said shelf and positioned over said spring means, each of said lugs having a peripheral wedge face, and friction means actuated by said lugs, said friction means comprising friction elements supported by said side frame and a plurality of shoes interposed between said springs and lugs and engageable with said friction elements, each of said shoes having a wedge surface in engagement with the said lug face and an upstanding flange about said lug.

5. In a car truck, a side frame having a bolster receiving opening and a shelf therebelow, a bolster extending into said opening, spring means below said shelf for supporting said bolster, lugs projecting from said bolster into openings in said shelf and positioned over said spring means, support means depending from said shelf, friction members positioned on said support means, and friction shoes interposed between, said lugs and spring means and engaging said friction members, said lugs being adapted to urge said shoes into frictional engagement with said members.

6. In a car truck, a side frame having a bolster receiving opening, and a shelf therebelow, a bolster extending into said opening, spring means below said shelf for supporting said bolster, openings in said shelf, lugs projecting from said bolster into said openings, each of said lugs having a wedge face, support means adjacent said openings and depending from said shelf, said support means having inward projections on the ends thereof, friction members within said openings and supported on said projections, and friction shoes interposed between said lugs and spring means and engaging said friction members, said shoes being constructed and arranged so as to frictionally cooperate with said members upon movement of said bolster to damp oscillations of said spring means.

7. In a car truck, a side frame having a bolster receiving opening and a shelf therebelow, a bolster extending into said opening, spring means below said shelf for supporting said bolster, a lug projecting from said bolster into an opening in said shelf, said lug having a peripheral wedge face, a plurality of friction shoes enclosing said lug and having wedge portions interposed between said spring means and lug, friction means supported on said frame enclosing said shoes and in frictional engagement therewith, said lug being adapted to urge said shoes against said members to damp vibrations of said spring means.

8. In a car truck, a side frame having a bolster receiving opening and a shelf therebelow, a bolster extending into said opening and having a downwardly projecting lug extending into an opening in said shelf, said lug having a peripheral wedge face, spring means supported by said side frame beneath said lug, friction elements carried by said side frame adjacent said lug, and friction shoes engaging said wedge face and between said lug and spring means adapted to frictionally engage said friction elements for damping oscillations of said spring means during vertical movement of said bolster.

9. In a car truck, a side frame having a bolster receiving opening and a shelf therebelow, a

each of said shoes having a wedge surface in enand springs comprising friction shoes having portions surrounding said lugs and normally spaced therefrom to permit angular movement of said bolster: in relation to said side frame upon the. application of forces tending to produce such movement, said means being constructed and arranged so as to return said lugs to normal position after the forces producing the angular movement have been removed.

10. In a car truck, a side frame having a bolster receiving opening and a shelf therebelow, a bolster extending into said opening, means comprising a lug depending from said bolster into an opening in said shelf for tying said bolster to said side frame, said lug having peripheral wedge means thereon, bolster supporting means comprising a spring beneath said lug, and friction means comprising a friction element supported by said side frame and a shoe engageable with said friction element and cooperating with said wedge means and said bolster supporting means for damping oscillations of said spring.-

11. In a car truck, a side frame having a bo1- ster receiving opening and a shelf therebelow, a bolster extending into said opening, 9. lug depending from said bolster through an opening in said shelf,*bolster supporting means comprising a ,spring beneath said lug, said lug having peripheral wedge means thereon, friction means carried by said side frame, and means comprising a shoe external to said lug and cooperating with said wedge and friction means for damping oscillations of said spring.

12. In a car truck, a side frame having a bolster receiving opening and a'shelf therebelow, V

a bolster extending into said opening and having a lug projecting through an opening in said shelf, means comprising a'spring beneath said lug for supporting said bolster, said lug having peripheral wedge means thereon, friction means extending into said shelf opening, and means cooperating with said wedge means and interposed between said lug and said friction means for engaging the latter to damp oscillations of said spring! 13. In a car truck, a side frame having a bolster receiving opening and a shelf therebelow, a bolster extending into said opening, spring means below said shelf for supporting said bolster, lugs projecting from said bolster through openings in said shelf and positioned over said spring means, each of said lugs having a peripheral wedge face, and friction means actuated by said lugs, said friction means comprising a plurality of shoes interposed between said springs and lugs,

gagement with the said lug face and an upstanding flange about said lug, and means on said side frame adapted to frictionally engage said shoes for snubbing oscillations of said spring means upon downward movement of said bolster relative to said side frame.

14. In a car truck, a side frame having a bolster receiving opening and a shelf therebelow, a bolster extending into said opening and having downwardly projecting lugs extending into openings in said shelf, wedging means on said lugs, spring means for supporting said bolster carried by said side frame adjacent said lugs, friction means carried by said frame and springs comprising friction shoes having portions engaging said wedging means, and portions surrounding said lugs and normally spaced therefrom to permit angular movement .of said bolster in relation to said side frame upon the application of forces tending to produce such movement, said means being constructed and arranged so as to return said lugs to normal position after the forces producing the angular movement have been removed.

15. In a car truck, a side frame having a bolster receiving opening and a shelf therebelow, a bolster extending into said opening, means comprising a lug depending from said bolster into an opening insaid shelf for tying said bolster to said side frame, said lug having wedging means at the lower end thereof, spring means on said side frame beneath said lug, friction members supported on said side frame extending into overlapping relation with said spring means, friction shoes supported on said spring means and engaging said friction members, said shoes having wedging means thereon engaging the wedging means on said lug, said shoes being adapted to be forced into frictional engagement with said friction members upon vertical movement of said bolster relative to said side. frame for damping oscillations of said spring means.

16. In a car truck, a side frame having a bolster receiving opening and a shelf therebelow, a bolster extending into said opening and having a lug projecting through an opening in said tion means in part supported by said side frame and in part engaging said wedge and spring means for damping oscillations of said spring means.

- JAMES SHAFER. 

